If you’re serious about going green, you can never know too much about solar terms and technologies. Solar batteries store excess energy generated by solar panels for use at a later date, like during overcast conditions, at night or during grid shortages.
Solar panels generate DC electricity, any excess of which is directed to your battery via an inverter or charge controller. When power is needed, the stored energy is converted back into AC electricity to run household appliances.
As with any solar technology, you’ll want to know how to make the most of your new addition. Questions like ‘how long do solar panel batteries last?’ and ‘how can I maximise my battery’s lifespan?’ are to be expected. So, for more information, stay with Project Solar!
What’s the lifespan of a solar battery?
Most solar batteries, particularly lithium-ion models, are expected to last between 10 and 15 years. Instead of abruptly failing, solar batteries gradually degrade over time, meaning their ability to hold a charge lessens.
However, a more precise way to measure a battery’s longevity is through its cycle life, which is the amount of complete charge and discharge cycles it can complete before its capacity reduces to about 80%.
Depth of Discharge (DoD) is another element that affects your battery’s useful life. Regularly discharging a battery to near-empty levels (high DoD) accelerates wear and reduces the number of usable cycles.
Most experts recommend keeping Li-ion batteries within a 20% to 80% charge level to prolong their life.
What factors determine the lifespan of your battery?
Aside from DoD, what other factors can influence how long your battery lasts? Here are some of the most important:
Frequency of use
The more you charge and discharge a battery, the shorter its lifespan will be. This principle isn’t true only for solar batteries; it also applies to devices like laptops, phones, and tablets.
Solar batteries prefer an optimal number of cycles per day; too few or too many can cause degradation. One to two cycles daily is recommended for most households.
Environment
High temperatures can accelerate chemical reactions inside the battery, which can lead to faster degradation.
For example, a battery operated at 45°C might only have half its optimal lifetime compared to one at 20°C. Equally, extremely low temperatures can decrease your battery’s discharge capacity.
For best practice, solar batteries should be stored within a 20-25°C range. If storage temperatures are too high, your installer may recommend using forced cooling measures, such as fans or air conditioning.
How can homeowners maximise the lifespan of their solar batteries?
To keep your panels in top condition, be sure to check your warranty and manufacturer’s guidelines when applying our life-lengthening tips:
1. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines
Using your solar batteries as they were intended is the key to a lengthened lifespan.
We always recommend following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules and charging procedures. Neglect them, and you may have to bear the financial costs of premature degradation.
2. Monitor charge levels
For optimal performance, users should monitor the charge level of their solar battery.
Some key concepts to note are the State of Discharge (SoD), which is the current charge level relative to total capacity, and the Depth of Discharge (DoD), which is the percentage of capacity that can be discharged.
For lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, regularly discharging beyond the recommended DoD can lead to over-discharging and, eventually, accelerated rates of degradation.
3. Keep an eye on temperature
As we mentioned earlier, exposure to extreme temperatures on either end of the scale (hot or cold) can be damaging to a solar battery.
Operating outside the specified range (which may vary on a product-to-product basis) can lead to accelerated degradation of internal components.
If you believe your solar battery may, at some point in its lifespan, be vulnerable to intense temperature fluctuations, it’s worth telling your installer.
They may decide to place your solar batteries in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight to prevent heat buildup.
4. Regular cleaning and maintenance
Like any item kept in outdoor conditions, even if concealed, solar batteries require regular inspection for signs of dirt or damage. You’ll want to keep the battery casing free from dust to stop overheating (which can cause damage).
You can also evaluate the battery terminals for signs of corrosion (white or greenish deposits) and contact your installer for assistance if found.
Wipe down the battery with a gentle soap and water solution after turning off the system, or schedule an inspection with a professional (these should be conducted annually).
5. Update your solar Battery Management System
The Battery Management System monitors your battery performance. It’s constantly regulating the State of Charge (SoC) and making sure your system doesn’t overheat or overcharge.
But to maximise effectiveness, it’s important to update your BMS software. Staying up-to-date will enhance your system’s ability to optimise charging cycles, plus, it will make using your battery infinitely safer.
Are you interested in our solar batteries?
Now that you know how long solar batteries typically last (10–15 years), we hope you’re eager to learn more about the world of renewables.
Project Solar is on a mission to help homeowners save for life, and now we’re offering LFP batteries that can be stacked up to 10 units. With flexible, scalable, long-lasting solutions, you can make the most of your solar system with our battery storage systems. To learn more, contact us today!